Chapter 94: Once Again, the First

Chapter 94: Once Again, the First

As soon as Priam selected [Draconic], [Double Heart] began its work. His rib cage opened. The experience was moderately pleasant, and Priam activated Micro to suppress the horrible pain. Without the Supremacy, he would have fainted.

His main heart shifted slightly to the left, to make room for the future organ. The [Double Heart] framework vibrated before doubling in size. More precisely, a mirror image of the cage emerged from Priam's thorax. The illusion quickly gained consistency and increased in volume as it moved towards its target.

It took it just two seconds to envelop the wyvern's heart. Once in position, the image became solid. The appearance of a solid aether cage around the organ severed the veins and arteries connected to it. From these veins, blood streams began to flow, invading the cavity. Priam paid no attention, too busy watching [Double Heart] glow.

Target: Heart of Heaven Wyvern - Shadow Touched.

Starting purification protocol.

...

An intense light emanated from the cage, and Priam's eyes filled with tears. A heavenly light smote the heart. A moment later, the light dispersed. The golden heart had turned crimson.

Affinities purged.

Organ: Young wyvern heart.

Beginning adaptation process...

The cage diminished in volume, compressing the organ. Despite this, the heart seemed to retain its proportions. Priam had the impression of seeing a zoom-out. Space and dimensions were unaffected, but the muscle was becoming more compact. More dense.

The System's magic was at work. Seconds later, the heart was just slightly larger than a man's.

Beginning assimilation process...

The framework containing the wyvern organ disappeared. The next moment, Priam felt an immense weight inside him. The heart was now inside him. It had shrunk, but retained its mass - around three hundred kilograms. The ultra-dense muscle now disturbed his balance and Priam leaned against a wall to stabilize. Without his powerful attributes, the heart would have killed him by crushing his other organs.

Fortunately, Priam's constitution was exceptional. Grimacing, he accepted the new weight and concentrated on what would come. The operation wasn't over yet.

Within him, two frameworks were now superimposed in space. At least, that's how his Domain saw it.

One contained the wyverns heart, and the other the flakes of Tribulations.

Merging two affinities...

The two cages began to transition onto the same plane of reality. The flakes merged with the new heart, which then changed color. From crimson, it became silver. Every second, the System modified Priams body, connecting veins and arteries to this new organ. Priam felt profound changes taking place within him.

His mist was even more familiar. The steel concept fragment naturally obeyed his commands. His connection with the concepts seemed firmer and more natural.

New affinity unlocked: [Tribulation Dragon].

Both affinities seemed equally powerful, but [Tribulation] decided to support [Draconic]. Priam saw in it a clue about the Tribulation's nature.

New organ: [Heart of Tribulation Wyvern - Seraph]

Congratulations!

Warning: due to the difference in rarity between your race and this organ, there is a possibility of an incompatibility.

Calculating compatibility with your body

Bonus:

Racial Talent +20%

[Chimera] +10%

Micro +5%

...

Compatibility assessed at 52%.

Compatibility over 50%, little chance of rejection.100% compatibility is required to take full advantage of the possibilities offered by [Heart of Tribulation Wyvern - Seraph].

Title changed!

[Double Heart - Silver] becomes [Tribulation Wyvern Heart - Silver(Gold)].

[Tribulation Wyvern Heart] - Your second heart has the power of a wyvern, a distant descendant of the Dragons. That alone would be impressive, but it also possesses a [Tribulation Dragon] affinity. While not unique, this affinity is exceedingly rare and creates a mighty heart. Only your body's extreme adaptability allows you to accommodate this organ without perishing.The power of the Dragons now flows through your veins. Their bloodline awakens in you. Their power strengthens you.Be careful to remain the master of this power.The Dragons' first gift is an innate instinct for destruction and creation.The Dragons second gift... Delayed until compatibility exceeds 90%.VIT +20% (30%)Attribute evolution... Delayed until compatibility reaches 100%

New Talent!

[Draconic Instinct] - Your instinct can detect your enemies' mistakes. Your talent for manipulating aether increases.

New Title obtained!

[Dr... Insufficient compatibility.

The framework created by the System dispersed, joining the ambient aether. A second passed, and then the heart began to beat. Priam's whole body trembled. His blood now possessed a powerful affinity that nourished his body. The numbers given by the System did not do justice to the feeling of power that invaded him. For the second time that day, Priam felt invincible.

His smile quickly disappeared. He had a lot to do, and the Reunion's end was approaching. Seizing Promesse, he used [Tribulation Piercing Spear]. The wyvern's chest exploded, allowing daylight to bathe him in light.

Priam turned to the shadow he had trapped in his Domain. With a thought, he compressed the filament of darkness. A moment later, it disappeared, crushed by the warrior's will. Priam's draconic instincts whispered to him that the battle was over.

He had triumphed.

Covered in blood, acid and fluid, Priam climbed out of the wyvern's corpse and looked around. All around him, buildings laid in ruins. The battle had ravaged this part of the city. The dust was slowly settling, and silence replaced fighting noises.

Taking a few steps, Priam turned to his right. About three hundred meters away, one of Tommas' men was huddled on the ground. Priam approached, trying to walk straight, which was complicated with a three-hundred-kilogram heart in his chest.

Lvl Up: [Balance] lvl 9

AGI +1

The System cut the changeling off mid-laugh.

Announcement to Sector Hope:

Arnold NetSky withstood a quadruple Tribulation at Tier 0.

Final rank: Sector - year: 2

The Var Elegis will be rewarded for this feat.

Priam opened his eyes wide and then burst out laughing. The Var Elegis was a monster. Bechar opened his mouth before being interrupted again.

Announcement to Sector Hope:

Tyr Lgsgumad withstood a quadruple Tribulation at Tier 0.

Final rank: Sector - year: 4

The Aesir will be rewarded for this feat.

Priam's laughter continued to grow in intensity. As he read the unfamiliar name, his instincts told him it was one of his Elysian rivals.

Bechar looked at him, confused. "Two quadruple Tribulations... Three with you. That's impossible," said the changeling.

Priam stopped laughing. "If there are that many people in the area, it doesn't seem so unlikely to me, does it?"

"You don't understand. I've never seen these names before. I memorized all the most powerful factions long ago. These are unknowns. Besides, this kind of victory is normally kept secret. I encourage you to do it because you come from a new faction, and the System will protect humanity for some time. But no faction would announce the names of its geniuses for fear they'll be assassinated..."

Priam shrugged. "They're new too. Tyr and Arnold are with me in Elysium."

"In Elysium?" Bechar frowned before widening his eyes. "Wait, you mean Elysium, the spearhead world?!"

"I mean Elysium, the world with the highest density of aether. Dont know about this spearhead thing," replied Priam.

Bechar remained silent for a few moments before emptying his glass again.

"That explains a few things... A quadruple Tribulation, without the backing of a faction willing to sacrifice a fortune, is abnormal. Unofficially, I think there must be three or four a year in our sector. I only know one guy who's pulled off a triple, and I know a lot of people. Even so, their rank is really high."

"How so?"

"To move up in rank, you have to not only survive a Tribulation, but also brilliantly defeat it," Bechar explained. "Ranks one and three must be geniuses from certain imperial clans or divine children. On top of that, they're certainly on their seventh or even eighth Tribulation at Tier 0. If I have to guess, you must be ranked... Fiftieth?"

Priam's lips stretched. He might have been lucky in the Tutorial, but he'd earned his victory today. He opened his notification.

Achievement - Legendary: You have withstood a quadruple Tribulation at Tier 0. Your exceptional performance during this Tribulation has earned you first place in the annual ranking. This year, among the countless Tier 0s enduring a Tribulation in Sector Hope, you are the one who has most impressed the System.

Message for Sector Hope:

Priam Azura withstood a quadruple Tribulation at Tier 0.

Final rank: Sector - year: 1

Humanity will be rewarded for this feat.

The Seven Concepts congratulate you.

Potential + 5000. Fusion Token. Evolution Token - Legendary skill. Opportunity (Elysium).

Tyr Lgsgumad was a very busy Aesir. Despite this, he would never have refused to participate in a party.

His people were few in number but biologically immortal. They all knew each other, and most of them liked each other. It was important because the slightest animosity could spread over millennia, taking on enormous proportions and poisoning the life of the entire community.

Tyr smiled as he watched the banquet given in his honor. His compatriots were feasting and drinking, happy and proud to be one of the greatest races in this new sector. It was this kind of moment that brought them all together. It was that kind of moment that made his job easier.

Or rather, his jobs. At once lawman, judge, policeman and mediator, he was responsible for strengthening the bonds between the Aesir. He judged who was right and who was wrong, and the other Aesir praised his strength and wisdom. However, the strongest Aesir was also the youngest. He was born less than three thousand years ago.

Aesir women gave birth by fighting or hunting. When an Aesir woman wished to become pregnant, she would organize a wild hunt with her husband. The more exceptional the fight, the greater her chances of procreation. Her spirit and that of her husband would unite with the blood of the dead beast, creating a baby.

The proud Aesir spent much of their time fighting. It was the basis of their way of life, their means of feeding themselves and perpetuating their race.

When Arnold NetSky announced his victory, his comrades asked him to show his own. Tyr was a proud warrior and agreed.

Tyr drained his mead as he thought of this Arnold. The Var Elegis was in Elysium, and Tyr knew he would soon have the opportunity to prove his worth.

Announcement to Sector Hope:

Priam Azura withstood a quadruple Tribulation at Tier 0.

Final rank: Sector - year: 1

Humanity will be rewarded for this feat.

Tyr reread the message three times. He knew that Priam was also one of his rivals. Chasing away the notification, he looked around him. The party had gone silent. His twenty or so friends, the entirety of his race, stared at him strangely.

Tyr stood up and looked at his wife, Freyja. "Sunshine, let's go practice."

Status: Race change detected. Please read the notification regarding attribute calibration.

[He Who Eludes Death] charge OFF. Reloaded in 22 hours 51 min 13s[Tribulation]: Tribulations are coming.

Time: 182 days 23 hours 24 minutes 26 seconds.